December 2009: The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has published a policy brief titled “Climate change: turning costs into income opportunities,” which addresses the distribution of costs and incomes of mitigation.
UNCTAD states that developing countries, although facing considerable costs, can also generate new income if they adapt their development strategies to the requirements of climate change mitigation. It stresses the role of government in facilitating the process of structural change, not only by fostering “green” consumer preferences, but also by implementing pro-active industrial policies that support the production of climate-friendly equipment and appliances. The brief concludes that the world can move to a low-carbon economy without ‘feeling’ paralyzed by the costs and without sacrificing growth in the developing world. [The Policy Brief]